Starch branching enzyme II of potato

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to an amino acid sequence of second starch branching enzyme (SBE II) of potato and a fragment thereof as well as to the corresponding isolated DNA sequences. Furthermore, the invention relates to vectors comprising such an isolated DNA sequence, to processes for production of transgenic potatoes, and to the use of said potatoes for the production of starch. The starch obtained will show a changed pattern of branching of amylopectin as well as a changed amylose/amylopectin ratio.

[0001] This is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/SE96/01558, filed Nov. 28, 1996 that designates the United States.

[0002] The present invention relates to a novel starch branching enzyme of potato. More specifically, the present invention relates to an amino acid sequence of a second starch branching enzyme (SBE II) of potato and a fragment thereof as well as their corresponding DNA sequences. Furthermore, the invention relates to vectors comprising such DNA sequences, to processes for production of transgenic potatoes, and to the use of said potatoes for the production of starch.

[0003] Starch is a complex mixture of different molecule forms differing in degree of polymerization and branching of the glucose chains. Starch consists of amylose and amylopectin, whereby the amylose consists of an essentially linear α-1,4-glucan and amylopectin consists of α-1,4-glucans connected to each other via α-1,6-linkages and, thus, forming a branched polyglucan. Thus, starch is not a uniform raw material.

[0004] Starch is synthesized via at least three enzymatic reactions in which ADP glucose phosphorylase (EC 2.7.7.27), starch synthase (EC 2.4.1.21) and starch branching enzyme (EC 2.4.1.18) are involved Starch branching enzyme (SBE, also called Q-enzyme) is believed to have two different enzymatic activities. It catalyzes both the hydrolysis of α-1,4-glucosidic bonds and the formation of α-1,6-glucosidic bonds during synthesis of the branched component in starch, i.e. amylopectin.

[0005] Plant starch is a valuable source of renewable raw material used in, for example, the chemical industry (Visser and Jacobsen, 1993) However, the quality of the starch has to meet the demands of the processing industry wherein uniformity of structure is an important criterion. For industrial application there is a need of plants only containing amylose starch and plants only containing amylopectin starch, respectively.

[0006] Processes for altering the amylose/amylopectin ratio in starch have already been proposed. For example, in WO95/04826 there is described DNA sequences encoding debranching enzymes with the ability to reduce or increase the degree of branching of amylopectin in transgenic plants, e.g. potatoes.

[0007] In WO92/14827 plasmids are described having DNA sequences that after insertion into the genome of the plants cause changes in the carbohydrate concentration and the carbohydrate composition in regenerated plants. These changes can be obtained from a sequence of a branching enzyme that is located on these plasmids. This branching enzyme is proposed to alter the amylose/amylopectin ratio in starch of the plants, especially in commercially used plants.

[0008] WO92/14827 describes the only hitherto known starch branching enzyme in potato and within the art it is not known whether other starch branching enzymes are involved in the synthesis of branched starch of potato.

[0009] In Mol Gen Genet (1991) 225:289-296, Visser et al., there is described inhibition of the expression of the gene for granule-bound starch synthase in potato by antisense constructs. Inhibition of the enzyme in potato tuber starch was up to 100% in which case amylose-free starch was provided.

[0010] However, the prior known methods for inhibiting amylopectin have not been that successful and, therefore, alternative methods for inhibiting amylopectin are still highly desirable (Müller-Röber and Koβmann, 1994; Martin and Smith, 1995).

[0011] The object of the present invention is to enable altering the degree of amylopectin branching and the amylopectin/amylose ratio in potato starch.

[0012] According to the present invention this object is achieved by providing a novel isolated DNA sequence encoding a second starch branching enzyme, SBE II, and fragments thereof, which after insertion into the genome of the plants cause changes in said branching degree and ratio in regenerated plants.

[0013] Within the scope of the present invention there is also included the amino acid sequence of SBE II and fragments thereof.

[0014] Also variants of the above DNA sequence resulting from the degeneracy of the genetic code are encompassed.

[0015] The novel DNA sequence encoding SBEII, comprising 3074 nucleotides, as well as the corresponding amino acid sequence comprising 878 amino acids, are shown in SEQ ID No. 1. One 1393 nucleotides long fragment of the above DNA sequence, corresponding to nucleotides 1007 to 2399 of the DNA sequence in SEQ ID No. 1, as well as the corresponding amino acid sequence comprising 464 amino acids, are shown in SEQ ID No. 2.

[0016] Furthermore, there are provided vectors comprising said isolated DNA-sequences and regulatory elements active in potato. The DNA sequences may be inserted in the sense or antisense (reversed) orientation in the vectors in relation to a promoter immediately upstream from the DNA sequence.

[0017] Also there is provided a process for the production of transgenic potatoes with a reduced degree of branching of amylopectin starch, comprising the following steps:

[0018] a) transfer and incorporation of a vector according to the invention into the genome of a potato cell, and

[0019] b) regeneration of intact, whole plants from the transformed cells.

[0020] Finally, the invention provides the use of said transgenic potatoes for the production of starch.

[0021] The invention will be described in more detail below in association with an experimental part and the accompanying drawings, in which

[0022]FIG. 1 shows SDS polyacrylamide electrophoresis of proteins extracted from starch of normal potato (lane A) and transgenic potato (lane B), Excised protein bands are marked with arrows. Lane M: Molecular weight marker proteins (kDa).

[0023]FIG. 2 shows 4 peptide sequences derived from digested proteins from potato tuber starch.

EXPERIMENTAL PART

[0024] Isolation of Starch from Potato Tubers

[0025] Potato plants (Solanum tuberosum) were grown in the field. Peeled tubers from either cv. Early Puritan or from a transgenic potato line essentially lacking granule-bound starch synthase I (Svalöf Weibull AB, international application number PCT/SE91/00892), were homogenized at 4° C. in a fruit juicer. To the “juice fraction”, which contained a large fraction of the starch, was immediately added Tris-HCl, pH 7.5, to 50 mM, Na-dithionite to 30 mM and ethylenedinitrilotetraacetic acid (EDTA) to 10 mM. The starch granules were allowed to sediment for 30 min and washed 4× with 10 bed volumes of washing buffer (50 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.5, 10 mM EDTA). The starch, which was left on the bench at +4° C. for 30 min to sediment between every wash, was finally washed with 3×3 bed volumes of acetone, air dried over night, and stored at −20 °C.

[0026] Extraction of Proteins from Tuber Starch

[0027] Stored starch (20 g) was continuously mixed with 200 ml extraction buffer (50 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.5, 2% (w/v) sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), 5 mM EDTA) by aspiration with a pipette at 85° C. until the starch was gelatinized. The samples were then frozen at −70° C. for 1 hour. After thawing at 50° C., the samples were centrifuged for 20 min at 12,000×g at 10° C. The supernatants were collected and re-centrifuged at 3,000×g for 15 min. The final supernatants were filtered through 0.45 μ filters and 2.25 volumes of ice-cold acetone were added. After 30 min incubation at 4° C., the protein precipitates were collected by centrifugation (3,000×g for 30 min at 4° C.), and dissolved in 50 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.5. An aliquot of each preparation was analyzed by SDS poly-acrylamide gel electrophoresis according to Laemmli (1970) (FIG. 1). The proteins in the remaining portions of the preparations were concentrated by precipitation with trichloroacetic acid (10%) and the proteins were separated on an 8% SDS polyacrylamide gel Laemmli, (1970). The proteins in the gel were stained with Coomassie Brilliant Blue R-250 (0.2% in 20% methanol, 0.5% acetic acid, 79.5% H₂O).

[0028] In Gel Digestion and Sequencing of Peptides

[0029] The stained bands marked with arrows in FIG. 1 corresponding to an apparent molecular weight of about 100 kDa were excised and washed twice with 0.2M NH₄HCO₃ in 50% acetonitrile under continuous stirring at 35° C. for 20 min. After each washing, the liquid was removed and the gel pieces were allowed to dry by evaporation in a fume hood. The completely dried gel pieces were then separately placed on parafilm and 2 μl of 0.2M NH₄CO₃, 0.02% Tween-20 were added. Modified trypsin (Promega, Madison, Wis.,USA)(0.25 μg in 2 μl) was sucked into the gel pieces whereafter 0.2M NH₄CO₃ was added in 5 μl portions until they had resumed their original sizes. The gel slices were further divided into three pieces and transferred to an Eppendorf tube. 0.2M NH₄CO₃ (200 μl) was added and the proteins contained in the gel pieces were digested over night at 37° C. (Rosenfeld et al. 1992). After completed digestion, trifluoroacetic acid was added to 1% and the supernatants removed and saved. The gel pieces were further extracted twice with 60% acetonitrile, 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid (200 μl) under continuous shaking at 37° C. for 20 min. The two supernatants from these extractions were combined with the first supernatant. The gel pieces were finally washed with 60% acetonitrile, 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid, 0.02% Tween-20 (200 μl). Also these supernatants were combined with the other supernatants and the volume was reduced to 50 μl by evaporation. The extracted peptides were separated on a SMART® chromatography system (Pharmacia, Uppsala, Sweden) equipped with a μRPC C2/C18 SC2.1/0 column. Peptides were eluted with a gradient of 0-60% acetonitrile in water/0.1% trifluoroacetic acid over 60 min with a flow rate of 100 μl/min. Peptides were sequenced either on an Applied Biosystems 470A gas phase sequenator with an on line PTH-amino acid analyzer (120A) or on a model 476A according to the instructions of the manufacturer (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif., USA).

[0030] Four of the peptides sequenced gave easily interpretable sequences (FIG. 2). A data base search revealed that these four peptides displayed similarity to starch branching enzymes and interestingly, the peptides were more related to starch branching enzyme II from other plant species than to starch branching enzyme I from potato.

[0031] Construction of Oligonucleotides Encoding Peptides 1 and 2.

[0032] Degenerated oligonucleotides encoding peptide 1 and peptide 2 were synthesized as forward and reverse primers, respectively:

[0033] Oligonucleotide 1: 5′-gtaaaacgacggccagt-TTYGGNGTNTGGGARATHTT-3′ (Residues 2 to 8 of peptide 1)

[0034] Oligonucleotide 2: 5′-aattaaccctcactaaaggg-CKRTCRAAYTCYTGIARNCC-3′ (Residues 2 to 8 of peptide 2, reversed strand)

[0035] wherein

[0036] H is A, C or T, I is inosine; K is G or T; N is A, C, G or T; R is A or G; Y is C or T; bases in lower case were added as tag sequences.

[0037] Purification of mRNA from Potato Tuber, Synthesis of cDNA and PCR Amplification of a cDNA Fragment Corresponding to Potato Starch Branching Enzyme II.

[0038] Total RNA from mature potato tubers (S. tuberosum cv. Amanda) was isolated as described (Logemann et al. 1987). First strand cDNA was synthesized using 2 μg of total RNA and 60 pmol of oligo-dT₃₀ as downstream primer. The primer was annealed to the polyA of the mRNA at 60° C. for 5 min. The extension of the cDNA was performed according to the technical manual of the manufacturer using the Riboclone® cDNA Synthesis System M-MLV (H−)(Promega).

[0039] cDNA encoding the novel starch branching enzyme II according to the invention was amplified in a Perkin-Elmer GeneAmp®9600 PCR thermocycler (Perkin-Elmer Cetus Instruments, CT, USA) using the two degenerate primers designed from the peptides 1 and 2 (see above) under the following conditions: 1 mM dNTP, 1 μM of each primer and an alicot of the cDNA described above in a total reaction volume of 20 μl with 1× AmpliTaq® buffer and 0,8 U AmpliTaq® (Perkin-Elmer Cetus). The cycling conditions were: 96° C. for 1′, 80° C. while the enzyme was added as a hotstart (approximately 15′), an unintended drop to 25° C., five cycles of 94° C. for 20″, 45° C. for 1′, ramp to 72° C. for 1′ and 72° C. for 2′, and 30 cycles of 94° C. for 5″, 45° C. for 30″, and 72° C. for (2′+2″ per cycle) and completed with 72° C. for 10′ prior to chilling to 4° C.

[0040] A sample of this reaction (0.1 μl) was reamplified using the cycling conditions: 96° C. for 1′, 80° C. while the enzyme was added as a hotstart (approximately 5′), five cycles of 94° C. for 20″, 45° C. for 1′, and 72° C. for 2′, and 25 cycles of 94° C. for 5″, 45° C. for 30″, and 72° C. for (2′+2″ per cycle) and completed with 72° C. for 10′ prior to chilling to 4° C. After completion of the PCR amplification, the reaction was loaded on a 1.5% Seakem® agarose gel (FMC Bioproducts, Rockland, Me., USA). After electrophoresis and staining with ethidium bromide a major band with an apparent size of 1500 bp was excised and the fragment was eluted by shaking in water (200 μl ) for 1 h. This fragment was used as template in sequencing reactions after reamplification using primers corresponding to the tag sequences (in oligonucleotides 1 and 2), purification by agarose gel electrophoresis as above and extraction from the gel using the Qiaex® gel extraction kit according to the manufacturer's instructions (DIAGEN GmbH, Hilden, Germany). The sequencing reactions were done using the DyeDeoxy® Terminator Cycle Sequencing kits (Perkin-Elmer Cetus Instruments) using tag sequences and internal primers. The sequencing reaction were analyzed on an Applied Biosystems 373A DNA sequencer according to the manufacturer's protocols. The sequence kits edited and comprised 1393 bp.

[0041] To complete the determination of the sequence of starch branching enzyme II, the 5′ and 3′ ends of the full length cDNA were amplified from the same total RNA as above using rapid amplification of cDNA ends, RACE, methodology with specific primers from the 1393 bp sequence. In the 3′ end amplification, an oligo T₂₉G primer was used against the poly A tail and in the 5′ end, the 5′/3′ RACE kit from Boehringer Mannheim (Cat. No 1734792) was used. The fragments from these amplifications were sequenced in the same way as above using internal and end primers. The sequences from the two ends were aligned together with the 1393 base pairs to give a composite full length cDNA sequence. Primers were designed from this sequence to amplify the whole coding region in one part. Partial sequencing of the amplified coding cDNA confirmed the presence of a cDNA corresponding to the composite sequence. The full length cDNA is 3074 bp and the translated sequence comprises 878 amino acids. The mature protein comprises 830 amino acids.

[0042] Comparisons of the consensus sequences with the EMBL and GenBank databases showed 68% identity to potato starch branching enzyme I and about 80% identity to starch branching enzyme II from other plant species. The present inventors therefore denote the enzyme encoded by the new branching enzyme sequence potato starch branching enzyme II.

[0043] Transformation of Potato Plants

[0044] The isolated full length cDNA of potato starch branching enzyme II and other functionally active fragments in the range of 50-3 074 bp are cloned in reverse orientation behind promoters active in potato tubers. By the term “functionally active” is meant fragments that will affect the amylose/amylopectin ratio in potato starch. The DNA and amino acid sequence of SBE II according to the invention as well as one fragment of the DNA and corresponding amino acid sequence are shown in SEQ ID No. 1 and 2, respectively.

[0045] The promoters are selected from, for example, the patatin promoter, the promoter from the potato granule-bound starch synthase I gene or promoters isolated from potato starch branching enzymes I and II genes.

[0046] The constructs are cloned by techniques known in the art either in a binary Ti-plasmid vector suitable for transformation of potato mediated by Agrobacterium tumefaciens, or in a vector suitable for direct transformation using ballistic techniques or electroporation. It is realized that the sense (see below) and antisense constructs must contain all necessary regulatory elements.

[0047] Transgenic potato plants transcribe the inverse starch branching enzyme II construct specifically in tubers, leading to antisense inhibition of the enzyme. A reduction and changed pattern of the branching of amylopectin as well as a changed amylose/amylopectin ratio thereby occur in tuber starch.

[0048] The antisense construct for potato starch branching enzyme II is also used in combination with antisense constructs for potato starch branching enzyme I, for potato granule-bound starch synthase II, for potato soluble starch synthases II and III, for potato starch disproportionating enzyme (D-enzyme) or for potato starch debranching enzyme to transform potato to change the degree of branching of amylopectin and the amylose/amylopectin ratio. This gives new and valuable raw material to the starch processing industry.

[0049] The full-length cDNA sequence encoding the enzyme is, in different constructs, cloned in sense orientation behind one or more of the promoters mentioned above, and the constructs are transferred into suitable transformation vectors as described above and used for the transformation of potato. Regenerated transformed potato plants will produce an excess of starch branching enzyme II in the tubers leading to an increased degree and changed pattern of branching of amylopectin or to inhibition of transcription of endogenous starch branching enzyme II transcription due to co-suppression, resulting in a decreased branching of amylopectin.

REFERENCES

[0050] Müller-Röber, B., Koβmann, J., (1994) Approaches to influence starch quantity and starch quality in transgenic plants. Plant Cell Environm. 17, 601-613.

[0051] Martin, C., Smith, A. (1995) Starch Biosynthesis. Plant Cell 7, 971-985.

[0052] Laemmli, U.K. (1979) Cleavage of structural proteins during assembly of the head of bacteriophage T4. Nature 227, 680-685.

[0053] Logemann, J., Schell, J. and Willmitzer, L (1987) Improved method for the isolation of RNA from plant tissues. Anal. Biochem. 163, 16-20.

[0054] Rosenfeld, J., Capdeville, J, Guillemot, J. C., Ferrara, P. (1992) In-gel digestion of proteins for internal sequence analysis after one- or two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Anal. Biochem. 203, 173-179.

[0055] Visser, R. G. F., Jacobsen, E. (1993) Towards modifying plants for altered starch content and composition. TibTech 11, 63-68.

1 4 1 3074 DNA Unknown Description of Unknown OrganismbeII gene (branching enzyme II) from Solanum tuberosum (potato) 1 aaacctcctc cactcagtct ttgtttctct ctctcttcac gcttctcttg gcgccttgaa 60 ctcagcaatt tgacactcag ttagttacac tnccatcact tatcagatct ctattttttc 120 tcttaattcc aaccaaggaa tgaataaaaa gatagatttg taaaaaccct aaggagagaa 180 gaagaaag atg gtg tat aca ctc tct gga gtt cgt ttt cct act gtt cca 230 Met Val Tyr Thr Leu Ser Gly Val Arg Phe Pro Thr Val Pro -45 -40 -35 tca gtg tac aaa tct aat gga ttc agc agt aat ggt gat cgg agg aat 278 Ser Val Tyr Lys Ser Asn Gly Phe Ser Ser Asn Gly Asp Arg Arg Asn -30 -25 -20 gct aat ntt tct gta ttc ttg aaa aag cac tct ctt tca cgg aag atc 326 Ala Asn Xaa Ser Val Phe Leu Lys Lys His Ser Leu Ser Arg Lys Ile -15 -10 -5 ttg gct gaa aag tct tct tac aat tcc gaa tcc cga cct tct aca gtt 374 Leu Ala Glu Lys Ser Ser Tyr Asn Ser Glu Ser Arg Pro Ser Thr Val -1 1 5 10 gca gca tcg ggg aaa gtc ctt gtg cct gga acc cag agt gat agc tcc 422 Ala Ala Ser Gly Lys Val Leu Val Pro Gly Thr Gln Ser Asp Ser Ser 15 20 25 30 tca tcc tca aca gac caa ttt gag ttc act gag aca tct cca gaa aat 470 Ser Ser Ser Thr Asp Gln Phe Glu Phe Thr Glu Thr Ser Pro Glu Asn 35 40 45 tcc cca gca tca act gat gta gat agt tca aca atg gaa cac gct agg 518 Ser Pro Ala Ser Thr Asp Val Asp Ser Ser Thr Met Glu His Ala Arg 50 55 60 cag att aaa act gag aac gat gac gtt gag ccg tca agt gat ctt aca 566 Gln Ile Lys Thr Glu Asn Asp Asp Val Glu Pro Ser Ser Asp Leu Thr 65 70 75 gga agt gtt gaa gag ctg gat ttt gct tca tca cta caa cta caa gaa 614 Gly Ser Val Glu Glu Leu Asp Phe Ala Ser Ser Leu Gln Leu Gln Glu 80 85 90 ggt ggt aaa ctg gag gag tct aaa aca tta aat act tct gaa gag aca 662 Gly Gly Lys Leu Glu Glu Ser Lys Thr Leu Asn Thr Ser Glu Glu Thr 95 100 105 110 att att gat gaa tct gat agg atc aga gag agg ggc atc cct cca cct 710 Ile Ile Asp Glu Ser Asp Arg Ile Arg Glu Arg Gly Ile Pro Pro Pro 115 120 125 gga ctt ggt cag aag att tat gaa ata gac ccc ctt ttg aca aac tat 758 Gly Leu Gly Gln Lys Ile Tyr Glu Ile Asp Pro Leu Leu Thr Asn Tyr 130 135 140 cgt caa cac ctt gat tac agg tat tca cag tac aag aaa ctg agg gag 806 Arg Gln His Leu Asp Tyr Arg Tyr Ser Gln Tyr Lys Lys Leu Arg Glu 145 150 155 gca att gac aag tat gag ggt ggt ttg gaa gct ttt tct cgt ggt tat 854 Ala Ile Asp Lys Tyr Glu Gly Gly Leu Glu Ala Phe Ser Arg Gly Tyr 160 165 170 gaa aaa atg ggt ttc act cgt agt gct aca ggt atc act tac cgt gag 902 Glu Lys Met Gly Phe Thr Arg Ser Ala Thr Gly Ile Thr Tyr Arg Glu 175 180 185 190 tgg gct cct ggt gcc cag tca gct gcc ctc att gga gat ttc aac aat 950 Trp Ala Pro Gly Ala Gln Ser Ala Ala Leu Ile Gly Asp Phe Asn Asn 195 200 205 tgg gac gca aat gct gac att atg act cgg aat gaa ttt ggt gtc tgg 998 Trp Asp Ala Asn Ala Asp Ile Met Thr Arg Asn Glu Phe Gly Val Trp 210 215 220 gag att ttt ctg cca aat aat gtg gat ggt tct cct gca att cct cat 1046 Glu Ile Phe Leu Pro Asn Asn Val Asp Gly Ser Pro Ala Ile Pro His 225 230 235 ggg tcc aga gtg aag ata cgt atg gac act cca tca ggt gtt aag gat 1094 Gly Ser Arg Val Lys Ile Arg Met Asp Thr Pro Ser Gly Val Lys Asp 240 245 250 tcc att cct gct tgg atc aac tac tct tta cag ctt cct gat gaa att 1142 Ser Ile Pro Ala Trp Ile Asn Tyr Ser Leu Gln Leu Pro Asp Glu Ile 255 260 265 270 cca tat aat gga ata tat tat gat cca ccc gaa gag gag agg tat atc 1190 Pro Tyr Asn Gly Ile Tyr Tyr Asp Pro Pro Glu Glu Glu Arg Tyr Ile 275 280 285 ttc caa cac cca cgg cca aag aaa cca aag tcg ctg aga ata tat gaa 1238 Phe Gln His Pro Arg Pro Lys Lys Pro Lys Ser Leu Arg Ile Tyr Glu 290 295 300 tct cat att gga atg agt agt ccg gag cct aaa att aac tca tac gtg 1286 Ser His Ile Gly Met Ser Ser Pro Glu Pro Lys Ile Asn Ser Tyr Val 305 310 315 aat ttt aga gat gaa gtt ctt cct cgc ata aaa aag ctt ggg tac aat 1334 Asn Phe Arg Asp Glu Val Leu Pro Arg Ile Lys Lys Leu Gly Tyr Asn 320 325 330 gcg gtg caa att atg gct att caa gag cat tct tat tat gct agt ttt 1382 Ala Val Gln Ile Met Ala Ile Gln Glu His Ser Tyr Tyr Ala Ser Phe 335 340 345 350 ggt tat cat gtc aca aat ttt ttn gca cca agc agc cgt ttt gga acn 1430 Gly Tyr His Val Thr Asn Phe Xaa Ala Pro Ser Ser Arg Phe Gly Xaa 355 360 365 ccc gac gac ctt aag tct ttg att gat aaa gct cat gag cta gga att 1478 Pro Asp Asp Leu Lys Ser Leu Ile Asp Lys Ala His Glu Leu Gly Ile 370 375 380 gtt gtt ctc atg gac att gtt cac agc cat gca tca aat aat act tta 1526 Val Val Leu Met Asp Ile Val His Ser His Ala Ser Asn Asn Thr Leu 385 390 395 gat gga ctg aac atg ttt gac ggc aca gat agt tgt tac ttt cac tct 1574 Asp Gly Leu Asn Met Phe Asp Gly Thr Asp Ser Cys Tyr Phe His Ser 400 405 410 gga gct cgt ggt tat cat tgg atg tgg gat tcc cgc ctc ttt aac tat 1622 Gly Ala Arg Gly Tyr His Trp Met Trp Asp Ser Arg Leu Phe Asn Tyr 415 420 425 430 gga aac tgg gag gta ctt agg tat ctt ctc tca aat gcg aga tgg tgg 1670 Gly Asn Trp Glu Val Leu Arg Tyr Leu Leu Ser Asn Ala Arg Trp Trp 435 440 445 ttg gat gag ttc aaa ttt gat gga ttt aga ttt gat ggt gtg aca tca 1718 Leu Asp Glu Phe Lys Phe Asp Gly Phe Arg Phe Asp Gly Val Thr Ser 450 455 460 atg atg tat act cac cac gga tta tcg gtg gga ttc act ggg aac tac 1766 Met Met Tyr Thr His His Gly Leu Ser Val Gly Phe Thr Gly Asn Tyr 465 470 475 gag gaa tac ttt gga ctc gca act gat gtg gat gct gtt gtg tat ctg 1814 Glu Glu Tyr Phe Gly Leu Ala Thr Asp Val Asp Ala Val Val Tyr Leu 480 485 490 atg ctg gtc aac gat ctt att cat ggg ctt ttc cca gat gca att acc 1862 Met Leu Val Asn Asp Leu Ile His Gly Leu Phe Pro Asp Ala Ile Thr 495 500 505 510 att ggt gaa gat gtt agc gga atg ccg aca ttt tnt att ccc gtt caa 1910 Ile Gly Glu Asp Val Ser Gly Met Pro Thr Phe Xaa Ile Pro Val Gln 515 520 525 gat ggg ggt gtt ggc ttt gac tat cgg ctg cat atg gca att gct gat 1958 Asp Gly Gly Val Gly Phe Asp Tyr Arg Leu His Met Ala Ile Ala Asp 530 535 540 aaa tgg att gag ttg ctc aag aaa cgg gat gag gat tgg aga gtg ggt 2006 Lys Trp Ile Glu Leu Leu Lys Lys Arg Asp Glu Asp Trp Arg Val Gly 545 550 555 gat att gtt cat aca ctg aca aat aga aga tgg tcg gaa aag tgt gtt 2054 Asp Ile Val His Thr Leu Thr Asn Arg Arg Trp Ser Glu Lys Cys Val 560 565 570 tca tac gct gaa agt cat gat caa gct cta gtc ggt gat aaa act ata 2102 Ser Tyr Ala Glu Ser His Asp Gln Ala Leu Val Gly Asp Lys Thr Ile 575 580 585 590 gca ttc tgg ctg atg gag aag gat atg tat gat ttt atg gct ctg gat 2150 Ala Phe Trp Leu Met Glu Lys Asp Met Tyr Asp Phe Met Ala Leu Asp 595 600 605 aga ccn tca aca tca tta ata gat cgt ggg ata gca ttg cac aag atg 2198 Arg Xaa Ser Thr Ser Leu Ile Asp Arg Gly Ile Ala Leu His Lys Met 610 615 620 att agg ctt gta act atg gga tta gga gga gaa ggg tac cta aat ttc 2246 Ile Arg Leu Val Thr Met Gly Leu Gly Gly Glu Gly Tyr Leu Asn Phe 625 630 635 atg gga aat gaa ttc ggc cac cct gag tgg att gat ttc cct agg gct 2294 Met Gly Asn Glu Phe Gly His Pro Glu Trp Ile Asp Phe Pro Arg Ala 640 645 650 gaa caa cac ctc tct gat ggc tca gta att ccc gga aac caa ttc agt 2342 Glu Gln His Leu Ser Asp Gly Ser Val Ile Pro Gly Asn Gln Phe Ser 655 660 665 670 tat gat aaa tgc aga cgg aga ttt gac ctg gga gat gca gaa tat tta 2390 Tyr Asp Lys Cys Arg Arg Arg Phe Asp Leu Gly Asp Ala Glu Tyr Leu 675 680 685 aga tac cgt ggg ttg caa gaa ttt gac cgg gct atg cag tat ctt gaa 2438 Arg Tyr Arg Gly Leu Gln Glu Phe Asp Arg Ala Met Gln Tyr Leu Glu 690 695 700 gat aaa tat gag ttt atg act tca gaa cac cag ttc ata tca cga aag 2486 Asp Lys Tyr Glu Phe Met Thr Ser Glu His Gln Phe Ile Ser Arg Lys 705 710 715 gat gaa gga gat agg atg att gta ttt gaa aaa gga aac cta gtt ttt 2534 Asp Glu Gly Asp Arg Met Ile Val Phe Glu Lys Gly Asn Leu Val Phe 720 725 730 gtc ttt aat ttt cac tgg aca aaa agc tat tca gac tat cgc ata ggc 2582 Val Phe Asn Phe His Trp Thr Lys Ser Tyr Ser Asp Tyr Arg Ile Gly 735 740 745 750 tgc ctg aag cct gga aaa tac aag gtt gcc ttg gac tca gat gat cca 2630 Cys Leu Lys Pro Gly Lys Tyr Lys Val Ala Leu Asp Ser Asp Asp Pro 755 760 765 ctt ttt ggt ggc ttc ggg aga att gat cat aat gcc gaa tat ttc acc 2678 Leu Phe Gly Gly Phe Gly Arg Ile Asp His Asn Ala Glu Tyr Phe Thr 770 775 780 ttt gaa gga tgg tat gat gat cgt cct cgt tca att atg gtg tat gca 2726 Phe Glu Gly Trp Tyr Asp Asp Arg Pro Arg Ser Ile Met Val Tyr Ala 785 790 795 cct agt aga aca gca gtg gtc tat gca cta gta gac aaa gaa gaa gaa 2774 Pro Ser Arg Thr Ala Val Val Tyr Ala Leu Val Asp Lys Glu Glu Glu 800 805 810 gaa gaa gaa gaa gta gca gta gta gaa gaa gta gta gta gaa gaa gaa 2822 Glu Glu Glu Glu Val Ala Val Val Glu Glu Val Val Val Glu Glu Glu 815 820 825 830 tga acgaacttgt gatcgcgttg aaagatttga aggctacata gagcttcttg 2875 acgtatctgg caatattgca tcagtcttgg cggaatttca tgtgacaaaa ggtttgcaat 2935 tctttccact attagtagtg caacgatata cgcagagatg aagtgctgca caaacatatg 2995 taaaatcgat gaatttatgt cgaatgctgg gacgggcttc agcaggtttt gcttagtgag 3055 ttctgtaaat tgtcatctc 3074 2 878 PRT Unknown Description of Unknown OrganismbeII gene (branching enzyme II) from Solanum tuberosum (potato) 2 Met Val Tyr Thr Leu Ser Gly Val Arg Phe Pro Thr Val Pro Ser Val 1 5 10 15 Tyr Lys Ser Asn Gly Phe Ser Ser Asn Gly Asp Arg Arg Asn Ala Asn 20 25 30 Xaa Ser Val Phe Leu Lys Lys His Ser Leu Ser Arg Lys Ile Leu Ala 35 40 45 Glu Lys Ser Ser Tyr Asn Ser Glu Ser Arg Pro Ser Thr Val Ala Ala 50 55 60 Ser Gly Lys Val Leu Val Pro Gly Thr Gln Ser Asp Ser Ser Ser Ser 65 70 75 80 Ser Thr Asp Gln Phe Glu Phe Thr Glu Thr Ser Pro Glu Asn Ser Pro 85 90 95 Ala Ser Thr Asp Val Asp Ser Ser Thr Met Glu His Ala Arg Gln Ile 100 105 110 Lys Thr Glu Asn Asp Asp Val Glu Pro Ser Ser Asp Leu Thr Gly Ser 115 120 125 Val Glu Glu Leu Asp Phe Ala Ser Ser Leu Gln Leu Gln Glu Gly Gly 130 135 140 Lys Leu Glu Glu Ser Lys Thr Leu Asn Thr Ser Glu Glu Thr Ile Ile 145 150 155 160 Asp Glu Ser Asp Arg Ile Arg Glu Arg Gly Ile Pro Pro Pro Gly Leu 165 170 175 Gly Gln Lys Ile Tyr Glu Ile Asp Pro Leu Leu Thr Asn Tyr Arg Gln 180 185 190 His Leu Asp Tyr Arg Tyr Ser Gln Tyr Lys Lys Leu Arg Glu Ala Ile 195 200 205 Asp Lys Tyr Glu Gly Gly Leu Glu Ala Phe Ser Arg Gly Tyr Glu Lys 210 215 220 Met Gly Phe Thr Arg Ser Ala Thr Gly Ile Thr Tyr Arg Glu Trp Ala 225 230 235 240 Pro Gly Ala Gln Ser Ala Ala Leu Ile Gly Asp Phe Asn Asn Trp Asp 245 250 255 Ala Asn Ala Asp Ile Met Thr Arg Asn Glu Phe Gly Val Trp Glu Ile 260 265 270 Phe Leu Pro Asn Asn Val Asp Gly Ser Pro Ala Ile Pro His Gly Ser 275 280 285 Arg Val Lys Ile Arg Met Asp Thr Pro Ser Gly Val Lys Asp Ser Ile 290 295 300 Pro Ala Trp Ile Asn Tyr Ser Leu Gln Leu Pro Asp Glu Ile Pro Tyr 305 310 315 320 Asn Gly Ile Tyr Tyr Asp Pro Pro Glu Glu Glu Arg Tyr Ile Phe Gln 325 330 335 His Pro Arg Pro Lys Lys Pro Lys Ser Leu Arg Ile Tyr Glu Ser His 340 345 350 Ile Gly Met Ser Ser Pro Glu Pro Lys Ile Asn Ser Tyr Val Asn Phe 355 360 365 Arg Asp Glu Val Leu Pro Arg Ile Lys Lys Leu Gly Tyr Asn Ala Val 370 375 380 Gln Ile Met Ala Ile Gln Glu His Ser Tyr Tyr Ala Ser Phe Gly Tyr 385 390 395 400 His Val Thr Asn Phe Xaa Ala Pro Ser Ser Arg Phe Gly Xaa Pro Asp 405 410 415 Asp Leu Lys Ser Leu Ile Asp Lys Ala His Glu Leu Gly Ile Val Val 420 425 430 Leu Met Asp Ile Val His Ser His Ala Ser Asn Asn Thr Leu Asp Gly 435 440 445 Leu Asn Met Phe Asp Gly Thr Asp Ser Cys Tyr Phe His Ser Gly Ala 450 455 460 Arg Gly Tyr His Trp Met Trp Asp Ser Arg Leu Phe Asn Tyr Gly Asn 465 470 475 480 Trp Glu Val Leu Arg Tyr Leu Leu Ser Asn Ala Arg Trp Trp Leu Asp 485 490 495 Glu Phe Lys Phe Asp Gly Phe Arg Phe Asp Gly Val Thr Ser Met Met 500 505 510 Tyr Thr His His Gly Leu Ser Val Gly Phe Thr Gly Asn Tyr Glu Glu 515 520 525 Tyr Phe Gly Leu Ala Thr Asp Val Asp Ala Val Val Tyr Leu Met Leu 530 535 540 Val Asn Asp Leu Ile His Gly Leu Phe Pro Asp Ala Ile Thr Ile Gly 545 550 555 560 Glu Asp Val Ser Gly Met Pro Thr Phe Xaa Ile Pro Val Gln Asp Gly 565 570 575 Gly Val Gly Phe Asp Tyr Arg Leu His Met Ala Ile Ala Asp Lys Trp 580 585 590 Ile Glu Leu Leu Lys Lys Arg Asp Glu Asp Trp Arg Val Gly Asp Ile 595 600 605 Val His Thr Leu Thr Asn Arg Arg Trp Ser Glu Lys Cys Val Ser Tyr 610 615 620 Ala Glu Ser His Asp Gln Ala Leu Val Gly Asp Lys Thr Ile Ala Phe 625 630 635 640 Trp Leu Met Glu Lys Asp Met Tyr Asp Phe Met Ala Leu Asp Arg Xaa 645 650 655 Ser Thr Ser Leu Ile Asp Arg Gly Ile Ala Leu His Lys Met Ile Arg 660 665 670 Leu Val Thr Met Gly Leu Gly Gly Glu Gly Tyr Leu Asn Phe Met Gly 675 680 685 Asn Glu Phe Gly His Pro Glu Trp Ile Asp Phe Pro Arg Ala Glu Gln 690 695 700 His Leu Ser Asp Gly Ser Val Ile Pro Gly Asn Gln Phe Ser Tyr Asp 705 710 715 720 Lys Cys Arg Arg Arg Phe Asp Leu Gly Asp Ala Glu Tyr Leu Arg Tyr 725 730 735 Arg Gly Leu Gln Glu Phe Asp Arg Ala Met Gln Tyr Leu Glu Asp Lys 740 745 750 Tyr Glu Phe Met Thr Ser Glu His Gln Phe Ile Ser Arg Lys Asp Glu 755 760 765 Gly Asp Arg Met Ile Val Phe Glu Lys Gly Asn Leu Val Phe Val Phe 770 775 780 Asn Phe His Trp Thr Lys Ser Tyr Ser Asp Tyr Arg Ile Gly Cys Leu 785 790 795 800 Lys Pro Gly Lys Tyr Lys Val Ala Leu Asp Ser Asp Asp Pro Leu Phe 805 810 815 Gly Gly Phe Gly Arg Ile Asp His Asn Ala Glu Tyr Phe Thr Phe Glu 820 825 830 Gly Trp Tyr Asp Asp Arg Pro Arg Ser Ile Met Val Tyr Ala Pro Ser 835 840 845 Arg Thr Ala Val Val Tyr Ala Leu Val Asp Lys Glu Glu Glu Glu Glu 850 855 860 Glu Glu Val Ala Val Val Glu Glu Val Val Val Glu Glu Glu 865 870 875 3 1393 DNA Unknown Description of Unknown OrganismbeII gene fragment (branching enzyme II) from Solanum tuberosum (potato) 3 t ctg cca aat aat gtg gat ggt tct cct gca att cct cat ggg tcc aga 49 Leu Pro Asn Asn Val Asp Gly Ser Pro Ala Ile Pro His Gly Ser Arg 1 5 10 15 gtg aag ata cgt atg gac act cca tca ggt gtt aag gat tcc att cct 97 Val Lys Ile Arg Met Asp Thr Pro Ser Gly Val Lys Asp Ser Ile Pro 20 25 30 gct tgg atc aac tac tct tta cag ctt cct gat gaa att cca tat aat 145 Ala Trp Ile Asn Tyr Ser Leu Gln Leu Pro Asp Glu Ile Pro Tyr Asn 35 40 45 gga ata tat tat gat cca ccc gaa gag gag agg tat atc ttc caa cac 193 Gly Ile Tyr Tyr Asp Pro Pro Glu Glu Glu Arg Tyr Ile Phe Gln His 50 55 60 cca cgg cca aag aaa cca aag tcg ctg aga ata tat gaa tct cat att 241 Pro Arg Pro Lys Lys Pro Lys Ser Leu Arg Ile Tyr Glu Ser His Ile 65 70 75 80 gga atg agt agt ccg gag cct aaa att aac tca tac gtg aat ttt aga 289 Gly Met Ser Ser Pro Glu Pro Lys Ile Asn Ser Tyr Val Asn Phe Arg 85 90 95 gat gaa gtt ctt cct cgc ata aaa aag ctt ggg tac aat gcg gtg caa 337 Asp Glu Val Leu Pro Arg Ile Lys Lys Leu Gly Tyr Asn Ala Val Gln 100 105 110 att atg gct att caa gag cat tct tat tat gct agt ttt ggt tat cat 385 Ile Met Ala Ile Gln Glu His Ser Tyr Tyr Ala Ser Phe Gly Tyr His 115 120 125 gtc aca aat ttt ttn gca cca agc agc cgt ttt gaa acn ccc gac gac 433 Val Thr Asn Phe Xaa Ala Pro Ser Ser Arg Phe Glu Xaa Pro Asp Asp 130 135 140 ctt aag tct ttg att gat aaa gct cat gag cta gga att gtt gtt ctc 481 Leu Lys Ser Leu Ile Asp Lys Ala His Glu Leu Gly Ile Val Val Leu 145 150 155 160 atg gac att gtt cac agc cat gca tca aat aat act tta gat gga ctg 529 Met Asp Ile Val His Ser His Ala Ser Asn Asn Thr Leu Asp Gly Leu 165 170 175 aac atg ttt gac ggc aca gat agt tgt tac ttt cac tct gga gct cgt 577 Asn Met Phe Asp Gly Thr Asp Ser Cys Tyr Phe His Ser Gly Ala Arg 180 185 190 ggt tat cat tgg atg tgg gat tcc cgc ctc ttt aac tat gga aac tgg 625 Gly Tyr His Trp Met Trp Asp Ser Arg Leu Phe Asn Tyr Gly Asn Trp 195 200 205 gag gta ctt agg tat ctt ctc tca aat gcg aga tgg tgg ttg gat gag 673 Glu Val Leu Arg Tyr Leu Leu Ser Asn Ala Arg Trp Trp Leu Asp Glu 210 215 220 ttc aaa ttt gat gga ttt aga ttt gat ggt gtg aca tca atg atg tat 721 Phe Lys Phe Asp Gly Phe Arg Phe Asp Gly Val Thr Ser Met Met Tyr 225 230 235 240 act cac cac gga tta tcg gtg gga ttc act ggg aac tac gag gaa tac 769 Thr His His Gly Leu Ser Val Gly Phe Thr Gly Asn Tyr Glu Glu Tyr 245 250 255 ttt gga ctc gca act gat gtg gat gct gtt gtg tat ctg atg ctg gtc 817 Phe Gly Leu Ala Thr Asp Val Asp Ala Val Val Tyr Leu Met Leu Val 260 265 270 aac gat ctt att cat ggg ctt ttc cca gat gca att acc att ggt gaa 865 Asn Asp Leu Ile His Gly Leu Phe Pro Asp Ala Ile Thr Ile Gly Glu 275 280 285 gat gtt agc gga atg ccg aca ttt tnt att ccc gtt caa gat ggg ggt 913 Asp Val Ser Gly Met Pro Thr Phe Xaa Ile Pro Val Gln Asp Gly Gly 290 295 300 gtt ggc ttt gac tat cgg ctg cat atg gca att gct gat aaa tgg att 961 Val Gly Phe Asp Tyr Arg Leu His Met Ala Ile Ala Asp Lys Trp Ile 305 310 315 320 gag ttg ctc aag aaa cgg gat gag gat tgg aga gtg ggt gat att gtt 1009 Glu Leu Leu Lys Lys Arg Asp Glu Asp Trp Arg Val Gly Asp Ile Val 325 330 335 cat aca ctg aca aat aga aga tgg tcg gaa aag tgt gtt tca tac gct 1057 His Thr Leu Thr Asn Arg Arg Trp Ser Glu Lys Cys Val Ser Tyr Ala 340 345 350 gaa agt cat gat caa gct cta gtc ggt gat aaa act ata gca ttc tgg 1105 Glu Ser His Asp Gln Ala Leu Val Gly Asp Lys Thr Ile Ala Phe Trp 355 360 365 ctg atg gac aag gat atg tat gat ttt atg gct ctg gat aga ccn tca 1153 Leu Met Asp Lys Asp Met Tyr Asp Phe Met Ala Leu Asp Arg Xaa Ser 370 375 380 aca tca tta ata gat cgt ggg ata gca ttg cac aag atg att agg ctt 1201 Thr Ser Leu Ile Asp Arg Gly Ile Ala Leu His Lys Met Ile Arg Leu 385 390 395 400 gta act atg gga tta gga gga gaa ggg tac cta aat ttc atg gga aat 1249 Val Thr Met Gly Leu Gly Gly Glu Gly Tyr Leu Asn Phe Met Gly Asn 405 410 415 gaa ttc ggc cac cct gag tgg att gat ttc cct agg gct gaa caa cac 1297 Glu Phe Gly His Pro Glu Trp Ile Asp Phe Pro Arg Ala Glu Gln His 420 425 430 ctc tct gat ggc tca gta att ccc gga aac caa ttc agt tat gat aaa 1345 Leu Ser Asp Gly Ser Val Ile Pro Gly Asn Gln Phe Ser Tyr Asp Lys 435 440 445 tgc aga cgg aga ttt gac ctg gga gat gca gaa tat tta aga tac cgt 1393 Cys Arg Arg Arg Phe Asp Leu Gly Asp Ala Glu Tyr Leu Arg Tyr Arg 450 455 460 4 464 PRT Unknown Description of Unknown OrganismbeII gene fragment (branching enzyme II) from Solanum tuberosum (potato) 4 Leu Pro Asn Asn Val Asp Gly Ser Pro Ala Ile Pro His Gly Ser Arg 1 5 10 15 Val Lys Ile Arg Met Asp Thr Pro Ser Gly Val Lys Asp Ser Ile Pro 20 25 30 Ala Trp Ile Asn Tyr Ser Leu Gln Leu Pro Asp Glu Ile Pro Tyr Asn 35 40 45 Gly Ile Tyr Tyr Asp Pro Pro Glu Glu Glu Arg Tyr Ile Phe Gln His 50 55 60 Pro Arg Pro Lys Lys Pro Lys Ser Leu Arg Ile Tyr Glu Ser His Ile 65 70 75 80 Gly Met Ser Ser Pro Glu Pro Lys Ile Asn Ser Tyr Val Asn Phe Arg 85 90 95 Asp Glu Val Leu Pro Arg Ile Lys Lys Leu Gly Tyr Asn Ala Val Gln 100 105 110 Ile Met Ala Ile Gln Glu His Ser Tyr Tyr Ala Ser Phe Gly Tyr His 115 120 125 Val Thr Asn Phe Xaa Ala Pro Ser Ser Arg Phe Glu Xaa Pro Asp Asp 130 135 140 Leu Lys Ser Leu Ile Asp Lys Ala His Glu Leu Gly Ile Val Val Leu 145 150 155 160 Met Asp Ile Val His Ser His Ala Ser Asn Asn Thr Leu Asp Gly Leu 165 170 175 Asn Met Phe Asp Gly Thr Asp Ser Cys Tyr Phe His Ser Gly Ala Arg 180 185 190 Gly Tyr His Trp Met Trp Asp Ser Arg Leu Phe Asn Tyr Gly Asn Trp 195 200 205 Glu Val Leu Arg Tyr Leu Leu Ser Asn Ala Arg Trp Trp Leu Asp Glu 210 215 220 Phe Lys Phe Asp Gly Phe Arg Phe Asp Gly Val Thr Ser Met Met Tyr 225 230 235 240 Thr His His Gly Leu Ser Val Gly Phe Thr Gly Asn Tyr Glu Glu Tyr 245 250 255 Phe Gly Leu Ala Thr Asp Val Asp Ala Val Val Tyr Leu Met Leu Val 260 265 270 Asn Asp Leu Ile His Gly Leu Phe Pro Asp Ala Ile Thr Ile Gly Glu 275 280 285 Asp Val Ser Gly Met Pro Thr Phe Xaa Ile Pro Val Gln Asp Gly Gly 290 295 300 Val Gly Phe Asp Tyr Arg Leu His Met Ala Ile Ala Asp Lys Trp Ile 305 310 315 320 Glu Leu Leu Lys Lys Arg Asp Glu Asp Trp Arg Val Gly Asp Ile Val 325 330 335 His Thr Leu Thr Asn Arg Arg Trp Ser Glu Lys Cys Val Ser Tyr Ala 340 345 350 Glu Ser His Asp Gln Ala Leu Val Gly Asp Lys Thr Ile Ala Phe Trp 355 360 365 Leu Met Asp Lys Asp Met Tyr Asp Phe Met Ala Leu Asp Arg Xaa Ser 370 375 380 Thr Ser Leu Ile Asp Arg Gly Ile Ala Leu His Lys Met Ile Arg Leu 385 390 395 400 Val Thr Met Gly Leu Gly Gly Glu Gly Tyr Leu Asn Phe Met Gly Asn 405 410 415 Glu Phe Gly His Pro Glu Trp Ile Asp Phe Pro Arg Ala Glu Gln His 420 425 430 Leu Ser Asp Gly Ser Val Ile Pro Gly Asn Gln Phe Ser Tyr Asp Lys 435 440 445 Cys Arg Arg Arg Phe Asp Leu Gly Asp Ala Glu Tyr Leu Arg Tyr Arg 450 455 460 

We claim:
 1. An amino acid sequence of potato starch branching enzyme II (SBE II) comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID No.
 1. 2. Fragments of the amino acid sequence of potato starch branching enzyme II (SBE II), capable of affecting the amylose/amylopectin ratio in potato starch, as well as reducing or changing the pattern of the branching of amylopectin.
 3. A fragment according to claim 2, having the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID No.
 2. 4. An isolated DNA sequence encoding starch branching enzyme II (SBE II) of potato comprising the nucleotide sequence as shown in SEQ ID No. 1, and variants thereof resulting from the degeneracy of the genetic code.
 5. Fragments of the isolated DNA sequence, as shown in SEQ ID No. 1 and encoding starch branching enzyme II (SBE II) of potato, which fragments are capable of affecting the amylose/amylopectin ratio in potato as well as reducing or changing the pattern of the branching of amylopectin.
 6. Fragments according to claim 5 comprising 50-3074 bp of the nucleotide sequence as shown in SEQ ID No. 1, and variants thereof resulting from the degeneracy of the genetic code.
 7. A fragment according to claim 5, comprising the nucleotide sequence as shown in SEQ ID No.
 2. 8. A vector comprising the whole or a functionally active part of the isolated DNA sequence according to claim 4 and regulatory elements active in potato.
 9. A vector comprising the whole or a functionally active part of the isolated DNA sequence according to claim 5 and regulatory elements active in potato.
 10. A vector comprising the whole or a functionally active part of the isolated DNA sequence according to claim 6 and regulatory elements active in potato.
 11. A vector comprising the whole or a functionally active part of the isolated DNA sequence according to claim 7 and regulatory elements active in potato.
 12. A vector according to claim 8, wherein the DNA sequence is in the antisense (reversed) orientation in relation to a promoter immediately upstream from the DNA sequence.
 13. A process for the production of transgenic potatoes with either an increased or a decreased degree of branching of amylopectin starch, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: a) transfer and incorporation of a vector according to claim 8 into the genome of a potato cell, and b) regeneration of intact, whole plants from the transformed cells.
 14. A process for the production of transgenic potatoes with a reduced degree of branching of amylopectin starch, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: a) transfer and incorporation of a vector according to claim 12 into the genome of a potato cell, and b) regeneration of intact, whole plants from the transformed cells.
 15. A process according to claim 14, wherein the vector also comprises an antisense construct of starch branching enzyme I (SBE I).
 16. A process according to claim 14, wherein the vector also comprises an antisense construct of potato granule bound starch synthase II.
 17. A process according to claim 15, wherein the vector also comprises an antisense construct of potato granule bound starch synthase II.
 18. A process according to claim 14, wherein the vector also comprises an antisense construct of potato soluble starch synthases II and III.
 19. A process according to claim 15, wherein the vector also comprises an antisense construct of potato soluble starch synthases II and III.
 20. A process according to claim 16, wherein the vector also comprises an antisense construct of potato soluble starch synthases II and III.
 21. A process according to claim 14, wherein the vector also comprises an antisense construct of potato starch disproportionating enzyme (D-enzyme).
 22. A process according to claim 15, wherein the vector also comprises an antisense construct of potato starch disproportionating enzyme (D-enzyme).
 23. A process according to claim 16, wherein the vector also comprises an antisense construct of potato starch disproportionating enzyme (D-enzyme).
 24. A process according to claim 18, wherein the vector also comprises an antisense construct of potato starch disproportionating enzyme (D-enzyme).
 25. A process according to claim 14, wherein the vector also comprises an antisense construct of potato starch debranching enzyme.
 26. A process according to claim 15, wherein the vector also comprises an antisense construct of potato debranching enzyme.
 27. A process according to claim 16, wherein the vector also comprises an antisense construct of potato debranching enzyme.
 28. A process according to claim 18, wherein the vector comprises an antisense construct of potato debranching enzyme.
 29. A process according to claim 21, wherein the vector also comprises an antisense construct of potato debranching enzyme.
 30. A transgenic potato obtainable by the process according to claim
 13. 31. A transgenic potato obtainable by the process according to claim
 14. 32. A transgenic potato obtainable by the process according to claim
 15. 33. A transgenic potato obtainable by the process according to claim
 16. 34. A transgenic potato obtainable by the process according to claim
 18. 35. A transgenic potato obtainable by the process according to claim
 21. 36. A transgenic potato obtainable by the process according to claim
 25. 